The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-11-17
THAT MANDAMUS CASE.
Careless Democrats and Forgetfu
Friends.

Friends.
It would seem that some of our
Democratic friends in various parts OF
the county either never understood the
Sheriff mandamus case of a year ago,
or else had forgotten.
We arrive at this conclusion from the
thOughtless way in which they voted
not only on Sheriff, but on other county
candidates. The whole thing is so I'M
accountable, and unexpiainable that we
take the liberty, even after election, Ct
reminding our friends of the mandamus
outrage of year ago.
A year ago last summer dilemma
occurred in the Sheriffs office owing to
the death of Sheriff Lee, for which
there was no precedent as guide; and
hence the law was carefully consulted
and the statutes investigated and the
opinions of the ablest lawyers in the
State obtained; and they all decided
there. was no Sheriff to elect in Stark
county until the fall of 1887.
Owing to this conclusion the Demo
Gratis last year ran no candidate for
Sheriff. The Republicans, however,
thinking this was their opportunity,
voted for Mr.. Crawford and the votes
for him for Sheriff were counted and
returned as were those for other offices.
The Clerk of Court, John McGregOr,
being the officer to open and tabulate
the votes, decided to obey the official
proclamation ordering the election, and
as that document did not order the cleo
ton of Sheriff, he was not authorized
to count the votes for Crawford.
Leading Republican lawyers beset
the Clerk and argued the case before
him demanding that he count and tabu-
late; and Judge Frease, Baldwin and
others were really impOrtunate not to
say eloquent. Failing to coerce the
Clerk, Mr.. Grant, of counsel, rushed to
Columbus, and got writ of mandamus
from the Supreme Court.
In due course of time, the case came
I'D in the Court at Columbus, the Craw.
ford Repository attorneys and theil
friends not doubling a favorable decis
ion from their own Supreme Court.
But, alas for human expectation,
The decision of the Court sustained the
action of Clerk McGregor, and justified
the course of the Democrats in decid
ing, that, under the law there was nc
Sheriff to elect in Stark county unit
1887.
So all the hullabaloo of the Reposito
ry and their assistants, failed most sig
nally, and they returned from Colum
bus with their feathers dropping; very
different, indeed, from the airs put Oh
before the decision.
One would naturally suppose thai
every Democrat in Stark county would
remember these high handed attempts
on the part of the Republican Reposi
tory leaders. These men knew the law
perfectly we'll; but they thought, as they
had the court, they could get the Sheriff
Well, this fall they tried Mr.. Craw
ford again, and, by Democratic votes
strange to say, came very near electins
him, Mr.. Leininger only beating Craw
ford 119.
Old Democratic Jackson, for instance
that gave the gallant Powell lab major
ity, only gave Leininger 5S over Craw
ford. How some of our good friends
must have been deluded.
Some perturbed spirits also mus
have operated in old Tuscarawas town
ship, for there, while Powell beat Fora
ker 80, Crawford beats Leininger 81
And in Plain, too, Leininger's majorit,
is some Al less than Powell's. But tn!
table can be compared and much foOt
for reflection got.
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